Victoria official supports keeping environment regulations in state hands

Aug. 21, 2012 at 3:21 a.m.Updated Aug. 22, 2012 at 3:22 a.m.

On Monday, a federal appeals court sided with the state, overturning the Environmental Protection Agency's cross-state air pollution rule.

The federal appeals court ruling against the EPA may not have directly affected Victoria, but city of Victoria Environmental Services Director Jerry James said it's best that this kind of regulation remain in state hands.

"Regulation is not necessarily a bad thing, but I think the state of Texas is better prepared to look at what those costs are, both economically and to the environment," James said.

James said the regulation would not have had a direct impact on Victoria, but that it may have made it less tempting for industry to come to the Crossroads in particular and the state as a whole. State regulations try to keep a balance between those interests, he said.

"We look at issues like transportation in the state and feel that the state is doing what it needs to do to balance the economic considerations with the air quality considerations," he said.